Draft-gear.



J. J, EWING.

DRAFT GEAR.

APPLlcATloN FILED MAY 8.1915.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

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1. J. EWING.

DRAFT GEAR'.

APPLlcATloN FILED MAY8.1915.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

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DRAFT GEAR.

APPLICATioN FILED PAM/8.1915.

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JOHN J. EWING, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

DRAFT-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25. llijlt.

Appucatio'n 1aed May s, 1915'. serial No. 26,758.

l To all whom it may concer/1i Be. it known that I. JOHN J. EWING, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Richmond. county of Henrico, and State of Virginia. have made and invented certain new and useful Innnovcments in Draft- Gears, of which the following is a specifici tion.

This invention relates to draft gears and it consists in the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a draft gear of simple and durable structural arrangement the parts being so assembled as to permit of relative movement under the influence of springs, which movement will relieve the car or vehicle to which the gear is applied from such jar when the engine with which the car is connected is started 0r backed or checked in its movement.

Another object of the invention is to improve the form of yoke for retaining the springs and with this object in view the yoke is preferably in the form of a body having integral parts with pockets provided in the body. the said pockets being vertically disposed. that is to say the pocket-s are opened at their upper end and the springs are insertible in the pockets through the open ends thereof. Means are provided upon the voke for bridging the open upper ends of the pockets whereby the springs are effectually held in position therein. Followers are also located in the pockets and the said followers coperate with the springs to check or absorb such shocks incidental to starting and stopping the train whereby the cushioning effects hereinbefore referred to are obtained.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide the yoke with keys disposed transversely thereof and located in slots provided in the yoke. The end portions of the slot extend within the ends of the pockets and the said followers bear against the op posite edges of the said keys at points be tween the ends of the keys. The beams of the center sill of the car body are provided with openings which snugly receive the end portions of the said keys whereby the keys are practically fixed with relation to the body of the car. Consequently the yoke may move with relation to the center sill of the car and with relation to the said keys but the springs and the followers serve to maintain the voke at a predetermined normal position with relation to the sill and the movement of the yoke with relation to the sill does not occur until theyoke `is subjected to sudden or abnormal shock or pressure.

A\nother key is provided upon the yoke and is practically held against movement with relation thereto. The end portions of the last mentioned key are movably received in .slots provided in the beams of the sill and the last mentioned key serves as a means for (uninet-.ting the shank of the coupler with the yoke. i

In the accompanying drawings Figure `1 is a top plan view of the draft gear. Fig.

2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of thel same cut on the line Q-Q of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a similar view cut on the line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the yoke which constitutes the principal features of the invention. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the draft gear cut on the line 6-6 of Fig. Figs. 7 and 8 are transverse sectional views of the yoke showing modified arrangements of the bridges thereof. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of the yoke and showing but a single pocket. Fig. l() is a vertical, longitudinal View of the same and showing av modified form of lugs and bars at the bottom thereof. Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional View.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings the sills to which the draft gear is applied, consist of the two parallel beams 1 of the standard form. rlthe said beams are provided at spaced intervals with elongated openings 2 and `in advance of the said openings with slots The said slots and openings are in longitudinal alinement and they receive keys 4. The cotter pins 5, or other suitable securing devices, pass through the end portions of the said keys and are disposed adjacent the outer surfaces of the beams l and serve as means for preventing ,provided with an opening i the said keys from moving transversely with relation to the said beams. The openings '2 snugly receive the keys i as best illustrated in Fig. of the drawing where the key which is located in lthe slots 3 is less in transverse breadth than the length of the said slots and consequently the said key may mov-e along the slots as will be explained hereinafter. A coupler shank t3 is 7 which snugly receives the intermediate. portion of the key 4 located in the slots 3. The said shank and the form of coupler head attached thereto may be of any usual or standard pattern. The yoke which constitutes an essential feature of the present invention includes a body of general parallelepiped configuration and the portions thereof constitute an integral unitary structure preferably composed of cast metal. The body of the yoke includes side portions 9 which extend the 'full length of the body andare disposedparallel to each other and spaced from each other. The. side portions 9 are connected by cross webs 10. two of which are located in the vicinitv of the ends ofthe side portions 9 and the other at a line intermediate the said end webs. The -webs 10 are spaced from each other and the spaces or recesses occurring between the webs constitute pockets 11 adapted to receive springs and followers hereinafter described. The body S is provided at its lower or under side with integral bridge strips 12 which connect the cross webs 10 together and which are disposed midway between the side portions 9 and spaced from the same. Upstandinglugs 13 are provided upon the cross webs 10 at the upper surfaces thereof and the said lugs are provided with openings adapted to receive detachable retaining bars 14. After the said bars are inserted through the openings of the lugs their end portions are angularly disposed as at 15 whereby the said bars are held against longitudinal movement in the lugs. If desired in lieu of forming thebridge strips 12 integral with the body 8 of the yoke, lugs and bars 13 and 14: similar to the lugs and bars 13 andV 14 just described may be provided at the under side of the said body for bridgingthe pockets 11.

The body 8 of the yoke is provided with transversely disposed slots 16, 17 and 18. These slots traverse the length of the cross webs 10 and the forward end portions of the slots 16 extend in advance of the rear side of the rearmost pocket 11. The rear end portions of the slots 16 are continued int-o the rear extremities 19 of the side portions 8 as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The opposite ends'of the slots 17 extend beyond the opposite side of the. intermediate cross web 10 and consequently overlap the end portions of the adjacent pocket 11. The

forward end of thc slot 18 terminates approximately at the forward edge of the foremost cross web l() while the rear ends of the slots 18 project behind the rcar side of the foremost cross web 10 and overlap the forward portion of the foremost pocket 11. The keys 4 which are snugly received in the openings Q in the beams 1 of the center sill extend through the slots 1G, 17 and 18, but inasmuch as the slots are longer than the transverse breadth of the said keys the body S may move transversely with relation to the said keys.

Followers 20 are located in the pockets 11 and are positioned one at each end of each pocket and one against the edge of the adjacent key el which are held in the openings 2. Springs 21 are located in the pockets 11 between the followers 20 therein and the said springs are under slight compression with a tendency to hold the followers 20 in close contact with the edges of the adjacent keys 4. The springs 21 are of convoluted configuration and are made sufliciently heavy to withstand the normal, and cushion the sudden jars and excessive strains to which they are subjected while the car is in motion.

The forward extremities of the side portions 9 of the body 8 are provided with openings 22-which snugly receive the key i which is located in the slots 3 of the Fig. 1. Therefore a simple and durable means is provided for securely and effectually connecting the. shank of the coupler with the yoke and the yoke moves longitudinally in unison with the longitudinal movement of the coupler shank. In view of the fact that the springs 21 are interposed between the followers which bear directly against the edges of the keys 4 received in the openings 3 when the body 8 is moved longitudinally the springs 21 are compressed and consequently the effect of a sudden jerk or jar is cushioned by the action of the springs if the car is being moved in a forward or rearward direction. In either instance the springs 21 are compressed and a cushioning effect is had.

Vhile the arrangement of the pockets 1,1 as shown in the drawings (Figs. 1 to S inclusive) is in what is generally known a tandem relation, that is to say, one pocket is located in advance of the other, it is to be understood that the number of pockets may be reduced without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the claims. In fact in some, instances a single pocket may be all that is necessary or required as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. It will be noticed that in this instance the yoke is similar to the yoke with the tandem pockets with the exception that only one pocket is shown and the central slot and partition 17 is naturally dispensed with. Also as shown in Figs. l and l1 are shown lugs and bars 13 and 14 similar to the ones used on the top of the yoke although any of the forms mentioned may be equally as well used. The two end portions however are similar to the end portions of the yoke shown in the other construction.

In the event that any one of the springs 2l should break or become defective, it is necessary only to remove the bar 14 which spans that particular pocket when the impaired spring may be removed from the pocket by lifting the same out and a new spring may be inserted into the pocket through the top therein instead. In view of the fact that the pockets are open at their t lower sides they cannot accumulate dust or other foreign substance which would wedge between the convolutions of the springs and reduce. their resiliency or ability to contract when subjected to strain.

From the above description taken in con-- junction with the accompanying drawing it will be seen that a draft gear of extremelyr simple and durable structure is provided. A minimum number of parts are employed and in the main minute structure is avoided consequently the gear may be subjected to extremely rough use and under adverse conditions without danger of being broken or disarranged to an extent to impair its usefulness and destroy its operative function. ln other words the gearis a substantial and economical substitute for the more elaborate and expensive draft gear now in general use and when operated will be equally as satisfactory.

Having thus described my invention what is claimed is 40 1. A yoke for a draft gear comprising a body having side portions and'integral cross webs, there being provided between the side portions and the cross webs a series of t spaces which constitute pockets, the sideportion having extremities which project T bevond the rear side of the rearmost cross tweb. the body having slots which traverse the length of the cross webs and which extend through the side portion, the ends of 5o the slots exteruling beyond the sides of the cross webs and overlapping` the ends of the pockets. the slots at the rearmost cross web projecting at their rear ends into the said rear extremities of the side portions.

A draft gear comprising a yoke consisting of side'portions and cross webs to thereby form a pocket. said side portions provided at their forward and rearward ends with transverse openings, the transverse opening at the rearward end extending also into saidvpocket. a key snugly received in the first of said openings, a coupler mounted upon the key between the side portions of the yoke, means for slidably supporting the end portions of the key and a second key extending in the transverse opening in the rearward end of said yoke and a portion of said key free to move inward and outward in said pocket and removablel means located above and below, said pocket for retaining the spring in said pocket.

3. A yoke for a draft gear comprising a body having spaced side portions and integral cross webs the spaces between the side portions and the cross webs constituting pockets 'adapted to receive springs and followers, the body portion being provided with slots which traverse the length of the cross webs and extend through the side portions, the ends of the slots extending beyond the sides of the webs and overlapping the ends of the pockets, substantially as described.

1. A yoke for a draft gear comprising a body having side portions and integral cross webs, there being provided between the side portions and the cross webs a series of spaces which constitute pockets, the side portions having extremities which project beyond the rear side of the rearmost cross web and extremities which project beyond the foremost side of the foremost cross web, the body having slots which traverse the length of the cross webs and which extend through the side portions, the ends of the slots extending beyond the ,sides of the cross webs and overlapping the ends of the pockets, the slots at the rearmost cross webs projecting at their rear ends into the rear extremities of the side portions, substantially as described.

A draft gear comprising a yoke hav ing pockets, springs located in the pockets, followers located in the pockets, cross keys slidably mounted in the -yoke and located beyond the opposite ends of the springs and projecting through the extension thereof, means for holding the cross keys at fixed positions whereby the yoke may be moved with relation to the cross keys when the springs are compressed, said yoke being provided at its ends with openings, a cross piece snugly received in the last mentioned openings, a coupler connected with the last mentioned key and means for supporting the last mentioned key whereby the said key 'may move with the coupler, substantially as described.

6. A4 yoke for a draft gear comprising a body having spaced side portions and an integral cross web located at a distance from the forward ends of said side portions to form a space adapted to receive the end of a coupler shank, said forward ends provided with a longitudinally extending slot, a second integral cross web located near the opposite ends of said side portions, the space between said cross web constituting a pocket to receive a spring and followers, the

said side` portions provided with slots which Signed at Richmond and State of Vil'- trnvcrse the length of the cross webs and exvinia Johs 3rd day of May A. D. 1915.

tend through thc sido portions, the adjacent JOI-.IN J. EVING. sides of the slots extending beyond the sides Witnesses:

5 of the webs and overlapping the ends of the C. W. MADnoX, pocket. P. J. EAGAN. 

